For eighteen years, the Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning
(JAEPL) has been providing a forum to encourage research, theory, and classroom practices
involving the expanded concepts of language. It contributes a sense of community
in which scholars and educators alike can exchange points of view and new, cutting-edge
approaches to teaching and learning.

Since 2010, King University Communication Studies chair, Joonna Trapp and Northern
Illinois University Professor Brad Peters have been the creative brains behind the
journal, serving as co-editors. Trapp, who has her Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition
from Texas Christian University and her Master of Arts degree in English from the
University of Maryland-College Park says the journal is an excellent way for scholars
to potentially get published.

We receive about 30 to 40 submissions a year for publication,” Trapp said. “To see
what people in the higher education field are capable of accomplishing is fascinating.”

Peters had had numerous publications on rhetorical situations and writing. He received
his B.A. from the University of Arizona, and his M.S. from State University College
of Fredonia, N.Y., followed by his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. He now serves
as the coordinator of Writing Across the Curriculum, Rhetoric and Composition at Northern
Illinois University.

Even though Trapp and Peters are hundreds of miles apart, they each bring their own
background and personal understanding into the journal.

“I’m good at the small details of the journal and making sure everything runs smoothly
during the year,” Trapp said. “Brad is great at giving feedback to potential writers
and typesetting as well. We make a great team.”

Each journal, which is published yearly, showcases various articles and ideas written
by college professors, and graduate students, as well as other emerging scholars.
The goal of the journal is to provide a common place for researchers, theorists,
and practitioners in the higher education field to participate in programs, to work
on long-term scholarly projects, and to promote scholarship.

When Trapp and Peters took over the journal, they wanted to explore a new way to put
the journal into the hands of more people in the higher education field.

“We really wanted to refine it,” Trapp said. “Our goal was to incorporate a great
variety of writing in the journal, not just book reviews and essays, but also poems
about teaching and learning, as well as roundtable discussions on a particular issue.”

Trapp and Peters are looking forward to moving the journal into a digital format in
the near future. The goal of moving JAEPL into a digital format provides numerous
possibilities,” Trapp said.

“Brad took on this journal not only as a way to help him with publishing, but to also
broaden the spectrum of rhetorical understanding,” Trapp said. “For me it’s about
the connections I’ve made with the people and organizations with which I’ve come into
contact. I’m definitely excited to see what the future holds for the journal.”

For more information on the Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning
and how to be included in future editions, contact Joonna Trapp at jstrapp@king.edu or 423.652.4873.

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King University is a Presbyterian, master’s-level comprehensive university. Founded
in 1867 as King College, the University offers more than 90 majors, minors and pre-professional
degrees and concentration in fields such as business, nursing, law, medical and health
sciences, pharmacy, digital media, education, and humanities. Graduate programs are
offered in business administration, education, and nursing. For more information visit
www.king.edu, call 800.362.0014, or email admissions@king.edu.